This is the first of what will hopefully be a series of pub signs which feature Salisbury Cathedral.

This is, obviously enough, the sign for the Royal Oak. The old Royal Oak sign had King Charlie himself hiding in the tree. This one has the crown, and a Royalist holding a Salisbury flag. I think Salisbury was largely for parliament, as it happens.

Anyhow, Salisbury Cathedral is depicted on the right.

The royal oak itself was believed to have been in the Midlands, but King Charles II did reputedly pass fairly close to the Royal Oak. On his way from Wilton to Heale House, he perhaps went up the Avenue (or even along The Kingsway) and down Snakey.

Thatched Pheasant, Stratford

I don't know what these things are called - there ought to be a name for them. They are ornaments added to thatched roofs (rooves?). There's a good owl on the other side of Salisbury.

I vaguely remember a news story about somebody who had a thatched kangeroo a few years back.

The Poultry Cross and Silver Street 1906

Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith - Click on the picture to buy a copy


The Poultry Cross looks the same now as it did in 1906. The shop to it's right is now 'Game', but I think it's the same building. Silver Street looks wider for some reason. I don't know if this is the camera angle or whether it's because there are no visible pavements.

Plaque at Saint Edmunds Church

This plaque at Saint Edmund's Church reads:

The Lord did marvelously preserve a great congregation of his people from the fall of the tower in this place upon the Sabbath day being June 26th 1653

A classic view of the Cathedral

Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.


A classic 1887 view of the 'Big Church'. I like the way river is made to look in this picture. I think it would probably have been taken from the Long Bridge, but I'm not sure. My recent photo is from a similar location: Photos of Salisbury: Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows">

The Stratford-sub-Castle 'Chopper' Milestone

This is a milestone at Stratford-sub-Castle.

It's on the route of my favourite walk - from Salisbury to Stonehenge.

The NCN stands for National Cycle Network. The bicycle is a 'Chopper' - which was a kids bike in the 1970s. They were really cool looking, but not that great to ride, as I remember. I really like the detail of the gearstick that the artist has included.

Detail from the Chopper Milestone

This is the 'Chopper Bike' from the Stratford milestone. More verbiage in the subsequent post....

Harnham in 1906

Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith. - click on the image to buy it!

I think the building on the left would be the Rose and Crown. The Sole Obsession running shoe shop is now just on the corner on the right. I wonder who the children were?

The balloon goes up

Hot air balloons take off from the Meadows, by the fire-station. This is taken from Meadow Road I think.

Fisherton Street in 1928

Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.

I think this is taken from where Yorkshire Fisheries is now - across the road from the City Hall.

Click on the photo if you would like to buy it from Francis Frith